Thursday, April 4, 2013

When it seems all the beauty is falling down.

Rain
moving in, so late yesterday I captured a neighbor’s stunning ornamental cherry
tree, because I knew, the forecast deluge would shear the blooms from the tree.

Sure
enough in a steady downpour this morning, the ground grows pink from a blanket
of petals.

So,
I’m talking to my daughter about a fender-bender she was involved in yesterday--the
verdict on the ticket amount yet to be
determined as well as other fallout like insurance rates.

“So
much money gone.” She splits her time between school and a part time job
and laments the hard earned money draining away.

Petals
falling down.

A quote from this incomparable writer comes to
mind again, “Can it be that, that which seems to oppose the will of God
actually is used of Him to accomplish the will of God? That which seems evil
only seems so because of perspective, the way the eyes see the shadows. Above
the clouds, light never stops shining.”

Can
it be?

As
we look across life at all the petals falling down—the dreams derailed, lives
seemingly cut short, relationships shattered, sicknesses borne, and financial
reversals, we study hard the words in Romans 8:28, “And we know that in all
things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called
according to his purpose.”

All
things?

All
things.

No one was injured in the accident yesterday, and that is worth an infinite number of ticket amounts. In fact, the cars were barely damaged. Another praise going up.

What
we often don’t know is how God works behind the scenes in this situation and others, and we may never know in this life. As we continually offer our
prayers, we trust that what God has allowed, God intends to use.

If
my neighbor’s tree were a fruit bearing cherry tree rather than an ornamental
one, next we'd see tiny cherries forming. Fruit follows falling
petals. So for us, if we cling to God in a deluge, we’ll find fruit follows.

The
rain pelts the roof right now, but as one beauty fades, it gives way to another
of green leaves and lush grass made full by the mulch of all the petals fallen down.

2 comments:

Beverly, your words are very inspirational. There is a reason for everything that happens in life and we just have to find out what that is. It is always good to see our glass as half full, not half empty. Thank you.

Chris,Thanks for taking the time to comment. Appreciate you reading so much. God's purposes are not always clear to me, but He's teaching me to trust Him despite my inability to see. Oh, for greater faith. Many blessings to you, Bev

LinkWithin

NOW AVAILABLE

A key can open more than a door.

Click images to order.

“As a Ford model during the 1980’s, the New York fashion world was my world. Beverly’s encouraging stories of how God moved in that sphere help us realize that no matter where we are— even on Seventh Avenue--God wants to use us for His glory.”Nancy StaffordActress (“Matlock”), Speaker, and Author

Have One Ringing Bell delivered by email. After entering info, watch for Feedburner email.

A few days ago, my sister Tammy sent me a quote she’d seen online. It offered wisdom to always take the high road. Before I shared ...

Home to Currahee

Available online and by request at your Christian bookstore

What others are saying . . .

“A genuine slice of Southernlife, chocked full of heartache and healing—with a side of humor.” Marion Bond West, Author,Contributing Editor, Guideposts

Give My Love to the Chestnut Trees

Available online and by request at your Christian bookstore

What others are saying...

Beverly Varnado spins a wonderful and touching tale, weighted with the folklore and beauty of St. Simons Island... - Rusty Whitener, Author of A Season of Miracles, Christy Award Finalist

Contact Form

Name

Email
*

Message
*

About Bev

Beverly Varnado is an award winning novelist,screenwriter, and blogger. Her screenplay, GiveMy Love to the Chestnut Trees, has been a finalist for the Kairos Prize and is now under option with Elevating Entertainment Motion Pictures. Her novels are Home to Currahee and Give My Love to the Chestnut Trees, which placed in the top ten for Christian Writer's Guild Operation First Novel. Her blog, One Ringing Bell, is now in itsseventh year with almost seven hundred posts. Her work has been featured on World Magazine Radio, The Upper Room Magazine, and she was recently featured in Southern Distinctions Magazine as one of seventeen authors writing about Georgia.Find out more at www.BeverlyVarnado.com

Why "One Ringing Bell?"

From Ezekiel 28:33-35, "Make pomegranates of blue, purple and scarlet yarn around the hem of the robe, with gold bells between them. The gold bells and the pomegranates are to alternate around the hem of the robe. Aaron must wear it when he ministers." The pomegranates symbolize the word of God and the bells, the going forth of that word. As the sound of the bells was heard when the priest, Aaron, ministered, my desire is to ring out the word wherever and whenever possible--to be "One Ringing Bell."